El Dorado County Grand Jury
• 2018-2019
EL Dorado County Grand Jury 2018-2019 Orado Count
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 5 findings
F1
Underspending of MHSA funds is a State-wide issue, although a few counties have managed to fully utilize funds provided under this program.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The County should contact Counties who have been successful in spending MHSA funds in a timely manner to determine if there are best practices that might be used to better utilize MHSA funds.
F2
The County’s MHSA Project Team has taken some actions to minimize the risk of reversion of MHSA funds.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Chief Administrative Officer, the Director of Health and Human Services the County Auditor-Controller and the Director of Human Resources should review County budgeting and personnel philosophies, strategies, and procedures to ensure that these administrative functions fully support the timely expenditure of MHSA funds.
F3
There are systemic and persistent issues in hiring and retaining County mental health employees that impact the timely expenditure of MHSA funds.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Chief Administrative Officer, the Director of Health and Human Services, the County Auditor-Controller, and the Procurement and Contracts Division Purchasing Agent should review County contracting strategies and procedures to ensure that these administrative functions fully support the timely expenditure of MHSA funds.
F4
The El Dorado County budgeting philosophy puts County MHSA funds at risk of reversion.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The County’s contracting procedures are complex and time-consuming. This allows less time for contractors to assist staff in developing and implementing programs, putting County MHSA funds at risk of reversion. 5/23/2019 Mental Health Services Act Fund Spending 7
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 1
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CL1Unexpended MHSA funds are subject to reversion to the State, unlike most other County programs, where funds not spent during a budget year are returned to the County's General Fund. The State will then redistribute reverted funds to all 58 counties. The County 2018-2019 annual plan update has a Reversion Reallocation Expenditure Plan, which calls for funds subject to reversion to be given priority for expenditure. The annual update also calls for Community Services and Support funds identified during the fiscal year that are at risk of reversion be transferred to the Reserve account. The Grand Jury interviewed individuals with the most knowledge of Mental Health Services Act funds. However, none of the key County administrators interviewed indicated there have been any changes to either MHSA budgeting philosophy or contracting procedures, that could reduce the risk of the County having funds reverted to the State.